Separator-refiner



15, 1964 D. R. DALZELL, JR

SEPARATOR-REFINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1962 Dem 1964 D. R. DALZELL,Y JR 3,161,359

SEPARATOR-REFINER Filed Feb. 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,161,359 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 3,161,359 SEFARA'iUR-REFENER David R. Balzell, In, Pittsiield, Mass assignor to E. D. Jones orporation, Pitts'field, l t tam. a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,672 2 Claims. (Cl. 24l82) This invention relates to apparatus for continuously processing pulp suspensions, particularly suspensions made from waste corrugated cartons, newsprint, reclaimed boxes, etc. which may contain solid articles such as staples and other junk.

Objects of the present invention are to provide appara'tus which not only refines the pulp but also separates the aforesaid articles from the pulp, which is simple and economical in construction, which can be purged easily and quickly, and which is durable and reliable in use.

According to the present invention the apparatus comprises a rotary disk having a set of blades on each side, a set of stationary blades facing each of the aforesaid sets with a radial passageway between the blades of each pair of opposed rotary and stationary blades throughout the circumference of the disk, a housing having a peripheral space surrounding the disk and an axial inlet on one side of the disk and an axial outlet on the other side of the disk so that incoming stock flows outwardly through the first radial passageway to the aforesaid peripheral space and thence inwardly through the second radial passageway to the outlet, the housing also having a junk outlet from the aforesaid peripheral space, and a valve normally closing the junk outlet, whereby junk is thrown into the peripheral space by centrifugal force and may be re moved periodically by opening the aforesaid valve. Preferably the junk outlet is directed downwardly so that the junk falls into the outlet by gravity. In the preferred embodiment the disk is mounted on an upright shaft so that the peripheral space is located at approximately the same level throughout the entire circumference of the disk, the junk outlet leading from the bottom of this space.

For the purpose of illustration typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a vertical axial section with the lower portion in elevation;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views of modifications; and

FIG. 5 is a face view of a portion of the rotary disk.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a base 1 containing a motor (not shown) for driving the vertical shaft 2. Fast to the top of the base 1 is a housing 3 closed at the top by a cap 4. Fast to the shaft 2 inside the housing 2 is a disk 5 carrying blades 6 and 7 on its upper and lower sides respectively. Facing the blades 6 is a set of stationary blades 8 mounted on the cap 4 and facing the blades 7 is a set of stationary blades 9 mounted on the upper end of a head 10 slidably mounted on the shaft 2 with a packing gland 11 to prevent leakage. The sliding head 10 is adjustable vertically by means of an adjuster 12 which may be of any suitable type, such as hydraulic, pneumatic, worm, etc. Fast to the shaft 2 is a disk 13 which prevents liquid from leaking into the motor housing and which also serves as a stop to limit the downward adjustment of the sliding head 10. The head 10 fits the housing 3 snugly to prevent leakage; a piston ring or packing gland (not shown) may be provided between the housing and head. By adjusting the position of the head it relatively to the housing 3 the width of the radial passageway between the two sets of blades 6 and 8 and '7 and 9 may be adjusted.

In the cap 4 is an axial inlet 14 through which the material to be refined is introduced and in the lower end of the sliding head It) is an outlet 15 through which the refined pulp is discharged. Thus the material flows outwardly through the radial passageway between the blades 6 and 8 and inwardly through the radial passageway between the blades 7 and 9. Depending from the peripheral space 16 is a junk outlet 17 closed by two valves 18 and 19. When junk is thrown into the peripheral space 16 it falls by gravity to the outlet 17. By opening valve 13 the junk may slide into the space between the two valves. By then closing the valve 18 and opening the valve 19 the junk may be discharged with the loss of very little pulp material.

For best results the pulp material should have a consistency between 1% and 6% by weight. The pulp suspension may be fed to the apparatus by gravity but it is preferably pumped in under positive pressure. As it passes outwardly through the radial passageway between the blades 6 and 8 defibering action takes place on any unbroken pieces of paper contained in the slurry. In the peripheral space 16 the material is subjected to a vigorous spinning action due to the rotation of the disk 5, this spinning action producing the aforesaid centrifugal force. Best results are obtained when the rotor is run at a peripheral velocity of between 5,000 and 10,000 feet per minute. The blades 6 and 8 should be relatively wide, say /2 to 1", and the grooves between the blades should be wide and deep, say /2" to 2" wide and /2" to 1" deep. This construction allows foreign objects to pass through the first radial passageway with minimum injury to the blades. The blades 7 and 9 should be narrower, say /s to /2", and the grooves between the blades should be narrower, say A" to /2" wide, and less in depth, say /s" to V2 deep.

In adjusting the clearance in the two radial passageways the sliding head 10 is moved upwardly until the blades 9 contact the blades 7. Further upward movement of the head raises the disk 5 until the radial passageway between the blades 6 and 8 is reduced to the desired width which should be adjustable through a wide range, say from 0 to l in width. In this connection it should be understood that in operation the blades '7 do not rub on blades 9 because of the material flowing therebetween.

The modifications shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and corresponding parts are correspondingly designated. The only difference is in the shape of the rotary disks and the radial passageways above and below the disk. In FIG. 2 the upper side of the disk 5a is conical and the radial passageway between the blades 6a and 8a is also conical. In FIG. 3 both sides of the disk 5b are conical and both radial passageways are conical, the apices of the cones being directed in opposite directions. In FIG. 4 the disk 50 is also conical on both sides but the apices are directed in the same direction, namely toward the inlet 14.

The blades 6, '7, 8 and 9 may be arranged in various patterns according to the prior art, but they are preferably arranged as shown at 6 in PEG. 5.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Refining apparatus comprising a rotary disk having a set of blades on each side, a set of stationary blades facing each of said sets with a radial passageway between the blades of each pair of opposed rotary and stationary blades throughout the circumference of the disk, a housing having a peripheral space surrounding the disk and an axial inlet on one side of the disk and an axial outlet on the other side of the disk so that incoming stock flows outwardly through the first radial passageway to said peripheral space and thence inwardly through the second radial peripheral space by centrifugal force and then falls through said passageway into. said chamber and may be removed periodically by opening said valve, the grooves between therblades-in said first passageway being wide and deep to allow junk to pass through the passageway.

a 2; Refining apparatus comprising an upright, shaft, a disk mounted on said shaft with a set of blades on its upper and lower sides, a set of stationary blades fa'cing'each of said sets with a radial passageway between the blades of each pair of opposed rotary and stationary blades throughout the circumference of the disk, a housing having 1 housing also having a junk chamber below said peripheral space, a passageway leading downwardly from said space to said chamber, the chamber having a junk outlet, and a valve normally closing thejunk outlet, whereby junk is thrown in to said peripheral space by centrifugal force and then falls through said passageway into said chamber and may be removed periodically by opening said valve, the grooves between the blades in said first passageway being wide and deep -to allow junk to pass through the passageway, and the grooves between the blades in the second passageway being narrower and shallower than the aforesaid grooves.

a peripheral space surrounding the disk and an axial inlet I above the disk and an axial outlet below thedisk'so that References Cited in the file of this patent U NlTED STATES PATENTS 919,327 

1. REFINING APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTARY DISK HAVING A SET OF BLADES ON EACH SIDE, A SET OF STATIONARY BLADES FACING EACH OF SAID SETS WITH A RADIAL PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN THE BLADES OF EACH PAIR OF OPPOSED ROTARY AND STATIONARY BLADES THROUGHOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE DISK, A HOUSING HAVING A PERIPHERAL SPACE SURROUNDING THE DISK AND AN AXIAL INLET ON ONE SIDE OF THE DISK AND AN AXIAL OUTLET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DISK SO THAT INCOMING STOCK FLOWS OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE FIRST RADIAL PASSAGEWAY TO SAID PERIPHERAL SPACE AND THENCE INWARDLY THROUGH THE SECOND RADIAL PASSAGEWAY TO SAID OUTLET, SAID HOUSING ALSO HAVING A JUNK CHAMBER BELOW SAID PERIPHERAL SPACE, A PASSAGEWAY LEADING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID SPACE TO SAID CHAMBER, THE CHAMBER HAVING A JUNK OUTLET, AND A VALVE NORMALLY CLOSING THE JUNK OUTLET, WHEREBY JUNK IS THROWN INTO SAID PERIPHERAL SPACE BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AND THEN FALLS THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY INTO SAID CHAMBER AND MAY BE REMOVED 